Study Guide Answers: Note: you need to consult class lectures (available on Moodle or
in the face-to-face class) for the full context. The following study guide is NOT
sufficient as an exclusive source to study for the exam.
1. Know how to do source, form, redaction, and narrative criticism. Source
criticism asks what are the earliest written sources behind each gospel; form
criticism asks what the earliest pieces of oral tradition are behind each gospel
and how they functioned in the early church, and redaction criticism asks how
the gospel writers used both oral and written tradition for their own
theological purposes.
2. Know how the centurion narrative functions in each of the synoptics.
Mark: the centurion is an outsider who understands who Jesus is while the
insiders in Jesus gospel (Jesus’ family, neighbors, and disciples) do not.
Matthew: it is not just a singular centurion, but the centurion and his men and
they function as a group of gentiles who are coming into the Kingdom. Luke:
the centurion declares that Jesus is innocent.
3. Where did Mark get his information for his gospel? From Peter. Mark is
not an eyewitness.
4. How is Mark’s gospel organized? Geographically
5. How does Mark view Jesus’ family, neighbors, and disciples? They are all
insiders, yet none of them understand him. His family tries to restrain him
when people are saying he has gone out of his mind, his neighbors doubt his
ability to do miraculous works, and his disciples lack faith in him.
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6. How does Jesus refuse to align himself with the insider/outsider mentality
of his day? See question 5. Also in Mark, total strangers—outsiders—do
sometimes have faith in Jesus.
7. Why does Mark use the word “immediately” so much? It highlights the
eschatological urgency of the gospel: the time is short to proclaim the
Kingdom.
8. What is Mark’s view of Jesus as the Son of Man? Jesus is the authoritative
teacher, the suffering servant, and the future judge of the world. You have to
have all three to understand who Jesus is. The characters in the story are blind
to Jesus identity (other than a few outsiders). We as the readers are told who
Jesus is from the very beginning.
9. What is the Kingdom of God and how do the disciples in Mark
demonstrate their lack of understanding of it? The reign or rule of God.
When the disciples ask to sit and Jesus left and right in his kingdom and are
fighting with each other about who gets the title of best disciple they prove
that their values are not the values of the Kingdom.
10. What is intercalation and how does it work? Also known as the Markan
sandwich, this device sandwiches one story inside of another, alerting the
reader that the stories have a connecting thread. In Mark 5, the two stories are
linked by faith and the fact that the woman with the hemorrhage and the girl
are linked by the number 12
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11. When Peter says Jesus is the Messiah in Mark 8, what does he mean? He
has no idea what he is talking about, as the subsequent verses prove. Jesus
calls him Satan.
12. What is the “messianic secret”? What is a reason for it? When Jesus
silences people and demons who are about to reveal who he is. The time is not
yet right for Jesus to be revealed. The characters can’t understand who Jesus is
until they see him within the context of his suffering and death (and even then,
the disciples don’t get it).
13. What do the “blind men” narratives in Mark demonstrate? Mark
sandwiches stories about actual blind people that Jesus heals around stories of
the stupidity of the disciples—demonstrating creatively that they are
spiritually blind.
14. What is the point of the intercalation structure in Mark 11? Jesus has
cursed the temple and it will be destroyed also. What happened to the fig tree
will happen to the temple. The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70
A.D. Mark is pointing to the temple’s future destruction.
15. What are examples of irony in Mark’s passion narrative?
a. Jesus is the Passover lamb
b. Jesus’ enemies think they are getting rid of a criminal and they are acting
according to God’s plan.
c. Jesus’ disciples abandon him
d. Jesus is crucified as a criminal between 2 criminals
e. cross reads the king of the Jews
f. My God, my God why have you forsaken me
g. Centurion
h. ending of gospel
16. How would the shorter ending of Mark fit with Mark’s tendency to use
irony? The women say nothing to anyone because they are afraid. This
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ending is likely the original one. This is powerful for a persecuted audience,
tempted to deny Jesus in order to spare their lives. They are metaphorically
asked, “Will you also say nothing and run away because you are afraid?”
17. Why does Matthew come first in the NT canon?
a. connects the best with OT prophecy
b. Jesus’ teaching
c. the church
18. Why do some scholars doubt that Matthew the disciple wrote the gospel?
Nearly all of Mark is in Matthew
19. What are Matthew’s purposes?
a. to present Jesus as the one who fulfills the mosaic law
b. to show that Jesus is the promised messiah
c. to give instruction for the church
20. Who is Jesus for Matthew?
a. the fulfillment of prophecy
b. Immanuel—God with us
c. the one who fulfills the mosaic law
d. the great teacher
e. the promised messiah
21. Why does Matthew use so many prophecies from the OT? Because Jesus
is the fulfillment (bringing them to their divinely intended goal) of OT
prophecy. He is the one to which they point.
22. What kind of Messiah does John the Baptist expect? One to come in
judgment. Fire and brimstone—“his winnowing fork is in his hand.” He asks
if Jesus is the one or if they are to wait for another.
23. How does the narrative of John the Baptist function in Matthew’s
narrative? We know John wasn’t totally wrong. As you read further in
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chapter 11 (Jesus curses the towns who have rejected him) you see that
judgment will be a part of Jesus’ future ministry.
24. What might Moses and Matthew’s Jesus have in common? (not on test)
25. What might “fulfill” mean in Matthew 5:17? Bring to its divinely
appointed goal.
26. How does Jesus deal with the Mosaic law in Matthew 5? Matthew's relationship to
the Mosaic law is complex and scholars are not unified in their understandings of
it. Some (like Anthony Saldarini) see Jesus as a Jewish teacher in the tradition of other
Jewish teachers of the first century who were trying to interpret but not move beyond the
Mosaic law. These scholars would see Jesus as fully affirming the authority of the
Mosaic law and showing people how to do a better job of obeying it. Others, (Thielman,
Hagner) would say that Jesus is doing more than just showing people how to obey it. He
is the fulfillment of the law--the one to whom the law pointed. He is the focus of our
obedience, not the Mosaic law. When we obey the teachings of Jesus, we will end up
keeping the law anyway (when you avoid lusting, adultery presumably wouldn't be a
problem; when one can avoid hatred, motivation for murder falls away), but the law isn't
what we look to for our authority, Jesus is. These views may seem similar, but they are
really pretty different. In the first example, Christians look to the OT for their
authority. In the second, our authority is Jesus. In the first example, the 10
commandments are authoritative for Christians. In the second, only those
commandments that are renewed in the teachings of Jesus are authoritative.
27. How does one become “perfect” (5:48)? By following Jesus’ teachings and
example. Through the ages, people have questioned to what degree we are to take the
Sermon on the Mount seriously. After all, Jesus doesn't really want us walking around
without right eyes or right hands, does he? However, some point out that with the death
and resurrection of Christ, we now have a new potentiality to fulfill Jesus'
commandments. We are not trying to do this in our own strength, but rather the Holy
Spirit is at work within us to make us holy. Our holiness depends completely on grace
and the work of the Spirit within us. Jesus did indeed mean us to take these commands
seriously, but doesn't expect us to be able to please him in our own strength. Rather, the
indwelling spirit makes the impossible possible and makes us "perfect." We become
perfect through following Jesus, enabled by the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean that we
will be entirely without sin. However, we will lead lives of righteousness enabled by the
Holy Spirit. Our righteousness will be internal because the desires of Jesus will be our
desires also due to the work of the Spirit within us.
28. What is Matthew’s characterization of the disciples? The disciples are entirely
spiritually blind in Mark. When Matthew redacts Mark (uses Mark as a source), he
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omits some of the harshest statements about the disciples and adds that they
understand some of his teaching. They still fail to understand who he is, though, and
what the Kingdom is about. They are those of “little faith” and do NOT serve as
positive role models for the church.
29. What do the parables of 21:28-22:14 demonstrate?
The kingdom was rejected by the Jewish religious leadership of Israel and will be
given to those who will bear fruit for the kingdom.
30. What does Matthew think of the religious leaders in chapter 23? They are
blind guides and hypocrites
31. What instructions do the parables of 24:45-25:46 give the church?
Be prepared; imitate Jesus in meeting the needs of others—Matt 25:31-46
32. What is Matthew’s unique contribution to Mark’s passion narrative?
Pilate washing his hands and Pilate’s wife’s dream.
33. What is the significance of the great commission for Israel? Not on test.
34. Who is Theophilus The recipient of Luke. Likely a wealthy benefactor who
financed the writing of Luke’s two volume work.
Who is Jesus for Luke:
One who exhibits unity of life and teaching
Jesus is completely dependent on God for determining his will, for spiritual
strength
Empowered by the spirit
Jesus practices and teaches radical simplicity
Jesus associates with those on the margins of society—those whom the religious
leadership has ignored.
Jesus is innocent
Jesus is a model of compassion and forgiveness
35. Why do some scholars not think that Luke was an eyewitness? About half
of Mark is in Luke.
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36. How does Luke use the Hebrew Bible? Not on test.
37. What are Luke’s most important themes? #38-43 below
38. What is Luke’s theology of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowers Jesus life
and ministry and is available for the church as well.
39. What is Luke’s theology of prayer? Know the following in full detail with
all relevant Lukan texts for the exam. There are SEVERAL questions on prayer in
Luke on the exam.
Focus of prayer:
a. God and His kingdom
b. We also pray for our “daily bread”
Our attitude in prayer matters
c. Humility and contrition—poverty of spirit in prayer
d. Confidence—because God is gracious
e. Persistence
Prayer is powerful:
f. It transforms us into Kingdom people
g. It conforms us to the will of God
h. It is essential for spiritual strength
40. What is Luke’s understanding of women?
Jesus elevates position of Mary as disciple
Luke pairs male and female characters
Women financially support Jesus
Luke pairs stories about men and women in his gospel
41. What is Luke’s understanding of wealth? (know full powerpoint context
plus Lukan parables on these. There are several questions on the exam on this
topic)
Jesus speaks against greed and lack of dependence on God
Jesus promotes practical dependency upon God
Meeting the needs of others—wealthy man and Lazarus
Giving generously
42. How does the Lukan Jesus treat the outcasts? They are the special
recipients of his ministry. He dines with them and seeks them out.
43. How does Luke emphasize Jesus’ innocence?
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Pilate’s reluctance, Herod can’t find anything wrong with Jesus, Man crucified with
Jesus affirms his innocence, Roman centurion
44. What is the significance of the Emmaus story for Luke? The disciples
recognize Jesus when they are breaking bread with him—emphasizes the Lord’s
supper.
45. What is the "signs" gospel? John’s source—string of miracles around which
John structured his narrative.
46. What are the major differences between John and the synoptics?
variety of topics vs. his own divine nature on test
no parables; kingdom of God only 2X
no exorcisms
miracles as signs
special order of events—back and forth to Jerusalem
47. What material is unique to John?
logos
changing water to wine
terminology of being born again
I am statements
resurrection of Lazarus
washing disciples feet
different resurrection appearances
three Passovers
48. What are John's purposes?
To inspire faith in Jesus’ divinity
to affirm that Jesus is fully human and fully divine
to explain the presence of the spirit
49. Where does the term "word" come from? Logos—the word for “word,”
Jesus, and rooted in the concept of wisdom in Proverbs 8.
50. How is John's prologue ironic? It is Jesus’ own creation who rejects him. I
John, Jesus has the characteristics of the Father. He is creator.
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51. How does John's Gethesemane narrative emphasize Jesus' divinity? It is
the moment of Jesus’ glory. Jesus, who has the attributes of God, has full
foreknowledge of what will happen. He is the great I am and even the soldiers
can’t stand in his presence. His long conversation with Pilate points to his
divinity. Everything that happens in the passion either fulfills OT prophecy or
fulfills what Jesus has predicted. Jesus does not cry “My God, My God why have
you forsaken me” (like in Mark), but “It is finished!”-a cry of victory.
Jn 17:5: 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in
your presence before the world existed.
17:20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in
me through their word,
18:6 6 When Jesus[c] said to them, “I am he,”[d] they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Conversation with Pilate
Fulfilling Jesus’ words or OT prophecy
19:29 “It is finished”
52. How might Jesus’ audience have understood him as the “I am,” the
“bread of life,” the “light of the world,” the “living water,” and the “Passover
lamb”? These "I am" statements connect to Old Testament stories, the prophetic
hope of the Old Testament, and symbols and festivals in the first century. For
instance, when Jesus proclaims that he is the water of life and the light of the
world, he is fulfilling and OT story of the provision of water in the wilderness or
when God manifest himself in the pillar of fire as he led Israel out of Egypt; he
connects to the prophetic hope of the OT that there would one day be a river
flowing from Jerusalem and eternal light because day would never cease, and he
fulfills the festival of Booths with this imagery also. When Jesus says that he is
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the bread of life, he connects to the OT story of the provision of manna, to the
prophetic hope that one day manna again would descend from on high (Jesus
himself and not his disciples distributes the bread when Jesus feeds the multitudes
in John), and his body is, of course broken as the bread of life for humanity.
53. What is the "world" like for John? Under the power of Satan; in darkness
because people are opposed to Jesus.
54. What is "sin" for John? Unbelief
55. Who is Jesus for John The Word/Logos, the Son (fully equal to but subordinate to
God), the Revealer (shows us what God is like), the Redeemer (redeems us from the
power of Satan). Jesus is the word, the Revealer, the Redeemer, and the Son
As the Word, John exclusively presents Jesus as the eternal preexistent Logos, rooting his
concept of Jesus in the Stoic concept of reason and the preexistent Wisdom of Proverbs
8. In John's prologue, John presents Jesus as the light that shines in the darkness, the one
who participated in creation and ironically was rejected by his own people whom he
made. Jesus is the Revealer: he reveals who God is (John 1:18). He also redeems
humanity from the power of Satan. Satan is described in John as the ruler of the
world. The natural condition of the world is darkness, and Jesus is the light shining in the
darkness who redeems humanity from Satan's grip. Jesus is also the Son. As the Son, he
and the Father are one. Jesus says what the Father tells him to say and does what the
Father tells him to do. He is one with God and he is God, as evidenced from the
numerous "I am" statements throughout the gospel. For John, in the end, Jesus is the
divine Son of God. Everything that he does points to God and he is one with God. His
mission is to reveal who God is and to redeem humanity and when his passion is
victoriously completed, he will again resume his position with God in heaven.
56. What is the highest level of faith for John? The three levels of faith are faith
in Jesus’ signs or miracles, faith in Jesus’ word, and faith based in relationship.
The latter, exemplified by the beloved disciple, is the highest level of faith.
57. For John, when does eternal life begin? At the moment at which one enters
into relationship with Christ.